In this episode we discuss the world’s fastest and highest flying jet-powered aircraft ever built, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird. Our guest is Col. (Ret) Richard Graham, a former SR-71 pilot. Our conversation is loosely based on his book Flying the SR-71, and we discuss the challenge of flying the SR-71. As a consequence of its unique capabilities and its engine and inlet design, the aircraft posed a number of very specific challenges on the pilot.

Thank you for interviewing Col. Richard Graham who cleared up the myth of the refueling after take-off. I had always thought it was due to leaky tanks. I had a chance to watch on radar, an SR-71 descend into controlled airspace. It took half the US state of Michigan (lower peninsula) to make its descending turn. That’s how thin the air was at 60K feet. Very cool aircraft!